There are cars that gain value over the years. This is the case of one of the few Fiat 8V Supersonic by Ghia that are preserved. This is the unit with chassis number 000053. This example, used minimally by the four owners it has had throughout its seven decades of life, has been carefully restored over three years.
And now it has a new owner. On December 8, it was auctioned in New York by RM Sotheby’s. The buyer, whose identity is unknown, has paid 2.25 million euros for it. This is an amount as high as that which some collectors have paid for certain Ferraris. Its great value lies in the fact that it is a coveted classic model, of which there are few units and it is in perfect condition.
The Fiat 8V, presented at the 1952 Geneva Motor Show, caused a great sensation for its sportiness. It was a surprise that the Italian brand manufactured a vehicle of this type, since it was entering into smaller, more economical models. Thus, it was “the biggest surprise of the year,” as Road magazine described it at the time.
114 examples were built, some of which were coached by other designers, such as Zagato, Vignale or Ghia, who created 15 units called 8V Supersonic. One of them, number 11, is the one that concerns us here.
This Fiat 8V Supersonic had an advanced V8 engine and a lightweight aluminum chassis. It also featured a four-wheel independent suspension system, “an incredibly advanced feature for 1953,” the auction house explains on its website.
Its design stands out for its very long hood with a very inclined windshield, a curved nose with a straight waist line and small rear fins. The rear lights resemble an airplane exhaust. The bodywork was finished in a striking metallic blue shade over a leather-trimmed interior.
The specimen that was auctioned a few days ago in New York has had several owners. Built in 1953, seven years later, it was sold to Piero Fagioli of Rimini. Ten years later, it was acquired by Eduardo Tenconi, owner of an official Fiat dealership in Milan, who kept it in a garage for thirty years. Its last owner was a Belgian collector, who commissioned a thorough restoration that lasted three years.
In October 2023, the car ended up at this auction house, which confirmed that it was a unique gem, for which they received an unusual amount for a vintage car: 2.25 million euros.
